A network analysis of the interplay between psychological distress and academic buoyancy in medical university students

The connections between academic buoyancy and psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and uncertainty stress in university students have consistently been highlighted, yet the intricate interplay between these factors remains underexplored. This study employed network analysis to investigate these relationships within Chinese medical university students, who face unique academic pressures and family expectations. Through multi-stage cluster random sampling, 3,622 students from a medical university in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, uncertainty stress, and academic buoyancy. Network analysis revealed that US10(feel that there is nothing to do), US6(do not know how to achieve goals), GAD5(restlessness), US7(worry about the future) and PHQ8(motor) emerged as core symptoms in the network. A negative correlation was observed between academic buoyancy and psychological distress, with strong connections to feelings of PHQ6(guilty), GAD3(excessive worry), and the perception that US4(unexpected things often occur in life). Bridging strength analysis highlighted that PHQ9(suicide) and GAD7(feeling afraid) exhibited the highest bridging strengths, while US3(experiencing chaos and confusion) significantly bridged with both PHQ4(lack of energy) and GAD5(restlessness). Based on these findings, targeted interventions focusing on alleviating the identified core symptoms, particularly US10(feel that there is nothing to do) and its strong negative connection to PHQ6(guilty), could help strengthen students' academic buoyancy. Additionally, addressing the bridge symptoms of suicidal PHQ9(suicide) and GAD7(feeling afraid) may be crucial in fostering students' overall development, enabling them to thrive both academically and psychologically within the context of Chinese medical universities.